Poggio Nardone Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2012

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Intense ruby red with brilliant burgundy reflects in color. Reminiscent of wild black fruits, vanilla and spices on the nose and dry, warm, slightly austere but velvety in the palate.

This wine comes from the oldest vineyard of Collemattoni: Fontelontano. Less than half hectare. It's one of the few Single Vineyard Brunello di Montalcino riserva.

Coming from a parcel with 15-18 year old vines planted in sandy clay and marl soils.
Harvest is 100% destemmed with a soft pressing, fermentation in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature of 28-30°C, pumping over for the first week of maceration following by skin-contact maceration for 20-25 days with rack and return technique (delestage).
Malolactic fermentation completed. The delestage and the pumping over are then spaced out along the process. 
Wine is slightly filtered before bottling.

Review:

"Saturated flavors of cherry and plum mesh nicely with the dense tannins in this intense, energetic red. Balanced, if a bit angular now, with the component parts needing time to integrate. Finishes with a firm grip and lingering tobacco and mineral accents. Best from 2022 through 2038. From Italy.—B.S."
- Wine Spectator Insider (April 2018), 96 pts

"Deep ruby. Very deep aromas of red plum, red berries, sweet spices and crushed stone are complicated by mint and cinnamon on the captivating nose. Juicy and extremely intense, with a crystallized quality to its sharply delineated fruit and spice flavors, this huge, structured wine is bursting at the seams with ripe fruit and flesh. A luscious mouthful of Brunello that finishes long with polished tannins and noteworthy energy, not to mention subtle building perfume.- Ian D'Agata"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (April 2018), 95 pts

Pinone Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is made from 100% Sangiovese.

Deep ruby-red with garnet hues. Intense fresh aromas of cherries and raspberry. Full, round and silky with aromas of blackberry and plum. Full-bodied and elegant with fine tannins and spicy oak notes in the finish.

Average age of the vines is 20 years. 
Wine went through malolactic fermetation. 
It was slightly filtered before bottling.

Pasta with meat sauce, red meats and game.

Reviews:

"This shows wonderful precision and focus on the nose with dried flowers, crushed stones and dark-berry character. Full body, firm and chewy tannins and a long and intense finish. Some pine needles and dried spices on the finish. Needs time to soften. Try in 2021."

- James Suckling (April 2018), 94 pts

"Pinino dates back to 1874, when it was established by Tito Costani beneath the Montosoli hill. Today it is co-owned by an Austrian couple and a Spanish couple, working with consulting oenologist Paolo Vagaggini. Touches of flint and incense counter more overt notes of balsamic herbs and dark cherry. Silky, layered tannins build on the palate to become surprisingly powerful. This will need a couple of years before approaching. Drinking Window 2020 - 2032."

- Decanter (February 2018), 91 pts

Aromas recall scorched earth, underbrush, stewed prune and coconut. Oak spices, vanilla and coffee dominate the warm palate. It lacks fruit richness and can’t stand up to the assertive tannins or the heat of evident alcohol.

Review:

"The 2009 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is the nicest wine presented by Tenuta Vitanza this year. This expression definitely shows its oaky side but that new oak style (French tonneaux primarily) is characteristic of this estate located in the Torrenieri subzone that makes some of the darkest and most extracted expressions of Brunello regardless. Dark fruit, prune, plum, cherry, spice, cedar, cardamon and grilled herb all compete for your attention. The ensemble is bold, opulent and rich in a way that most other Brunello wines are not. There is a note of sourness on the tannins. Every once in a while you need a supersized Brunello to pair with that T-bone steak you crave. — Monica Larner"
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 217, February 2015), 90 pts

Begali Amarone Classico is made from Corvina 65%, Rondinella 30%, other native grapes 5%

This wine is obtained from the drying of grapes that have been left to rest for 100 days, after a first careful selection in the vineyards and a second in the fruithouse. The wine is aged for about three years in oak big barrel, small barrel and then in the bottle.

Color: garnet red.

AROMA: intense, ethereal, spicy.

FLAVOUR: soft, dry, “warm”, solid and robust. S

ERVING SUGGESTIONS: ideal with second courses such as roasts, game, grilled meats and red meats in general. 

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Gagliasso Barolo Riserva Oak Box is made from 100% Nebbiolo

12 months in French oak barrels (50% new oak and 50% 2 years)

Complex and intense aromas of red fruits intermixed with licorice, prune, leather, smoke and notes of toasty oak and vanilla. Full-bodied on the palate with loads of ripe dried and candied fruits, pepper and mocha.

Torriglione 50% Rocche dell’Annunziata 50%
Average density of vines: 5500 vines per hectare
Method of cultivation: classical Guyot method with medium-short pruning;
3 vineyards - two with western exposure and one with a south-facing slope.
Green harvest in two different times with reduction of grapes with a production per hectare around 5500 kg . The grapes are harvested very ripe with a meticulous selection; the fermentation took place in stainless steel vats with temperature control. The fermentation is around 33-34°C with 15-17 days of maceration ; malolattic fermentation took place spontaneously in stainless steel vats. After malolattic fermentation the wine stays for 12 months in French oak barrels (50% new oak and 50% 2 years); after this period the barrels are blended (50% Torriglione and 50%Rocche dell’Annunziata) in old barrels for 48 months. The wine is bottled and refined for 10-12 months.

There's a gritty, sandy quality to the tannins that would cut through roast pork stuffed with prunes.

Sweet, savory aromas lead the way, sort of a mineral-laden black fruit---dark berries and plums. Smoke, dried herbs, violet, meat, wet stones and a hint of ironstone complete the package. It penetrates yet is a broad fragrant expression. I've always felt the aromatic range of this wine has its foundation in the four clones we use.

The black fruits continue on the palate, with black cherry, dark plum and spices echoing the aroma. While it's rich, almost luxurious, there's a tannic foundation and a structured acidity. Floral and earthy, the dried herbs and stones emerge here too, along with tobacco, thyme and lavender. This is a food-lover's Syrah, with weight, brightness and dimension.

(Clones 174, 383, 99 and Phelps) Vineyards: Ciel du Cheval Ranch at the End of the Road Classic Red Mountain character defines the Syrah La Côte Rousse, despite being the product of a cooler vintage. The warm site vineyards, Ciel du Cheval and Ranch at the End of the Road accumulated more heat than our other sites and ripened the four Syrah clones to a greater extent; we’ve never seen Red Mountain deliver less than full physiological maturity, every vintage. Nevertheless this vintage retains a vibrancy and energy that isn’t often found on Red Mountain.

Review:

The 2015 Syrah la Cote Rousse is a blockbuster Syrah from Red Mountain that’s from the Ranch at the End of The Road and Ciel du Cheval vineyards. It’s a mix of four different clones and is brought up in barrel. This deep, inky, seriously black Syrah gives up Hermitage-like notes of scorched earth, charred meats, graphite and licorice. It’s a big, concentrated effort that’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep through 2035. Robert Parker 96 Points